News Express

AANEM Attends AMA House of Delegates Meeting

December 05, 2023

The AMA’s House of Delegates (HOD) convened in National Harbor, Maryland for its interim meeting in mid-November. The meeting ran for four days, in addition to caucus meetings throughout the 2-3 weeks leading up to it. The meeting covered a wide range of important, timely topics currently affecting healthcare in the US. AANEM was represented at the meeting by Bill Pease, MD (delegate), Bill David, MD, PhD (alternate delegate), Dan Pierce, MD (young physician delegate), and Rachel Volbrecht, JD (Staff Liaison).

Trainee Talk: The Neuromuscular Physiatrist - How PM&R Fits Into the Neuromuscular Field

November 28, 2023

With the blossoming increase of interest in neuromuscular (NM) and electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine among PM&R residents, understanding the potential role of PM&R within these subspecialties and what PM&R can uniquely add to this field is vital. Read Drs. James Meiling, and Nassim Rad's discussion about the the NM physiatrist: How PM&R fits into the neuromuscular field.

Science News: Management Of Spastic Equinovarus Foot in Children With Cerebral Palsy: An Evaluation of Anatomical Landmarks for Selective Nerve Blocks of the Tibial Nerve Motor Branches

November 28, 2023

This is small observational study of 24 children aged 6-16 with cerebral palsy (CP), to define landmarks of tibial motor nerve branches for selective motor nerve blocks of the gastrocnemii, soleus and tibialis posterior muscles to manage spastic equinovarus foot.

CMS Finalizes Updates to the Physician Fee Schedule

November 13, 2023

The AANEM policy staff is diligently reviewing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS's) final rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates, and more...

Science News: Serum Neurofilament Light Chain as a Reliable Biomarker of Hereditary Transthyretin-Related Amyloidosis - A Swiss Reference Center Experience

November 10, 2023

In this prospective study, the authors aimed to determine if serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) is a reliable and early biomarker of peripheral neuropathy in hereditary transthyretin-related (hATTR) amyloidosis.

Science News: VCP-Related Myopathy: A Case Series and a Review of Literature

October 26, 2023

Valosin containing protein (VCP) controls the ubiquitin proteasome system, endolysosomal sorting, and autophagy. Frontotemporal dementia, inclusion body myopathy, and Paget’s disease of bone all have been related to dominant missense mutations in the VCP gene causing a multisystem proteinopathy. In this study, the authors describe a series of 5 patients with VCP mutations, majority with lower limb weakness with distal predominance.

Science News: Myopathy as a Cause of Long COVID Fatigue: Evidence From Quantitative and Single Fiber EMG and Muscle Histopathology

October 13, 2023

The authors of this study previously reported myopathic changes in quantitative EMG (qEMG) and pathological changes in muscle biopsies of a small group of long COVID patients with fatigue. Therefore, the authors aimed in this study to investigate the clinical and electrodiagnostic features in a larger Cohort of long COVID patients to explore whether myopathy and neuromuscular transmission failure are common causes of post-COVID fatigue.

Trainee Talk: 7 Tips for Trainees Attending the 2023 AANEM Annual Meeting

October 10, 2023

Hear from AANEM Young Leadership Council Co-chair, Michael Skolka, MD, on tips for trainees on how to navigate the AANEM Annual Meeting.

MIPS Target Review Deadline is October 9

October 04, 2023

On August 10, 2023, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) made available 2022 performance feedback which determines whether physicians will receive a positive, neutral, or negative payment adjustment on Medicare services furnished in 2024. There has been alarming reports of physicians facing MIPS penalties in 2024 for the first time since the program started. AANEM strongly encourages you to view this information as soon as possible.

AANEM Partnering With Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute on Ultrasound Education

October 04, 2023

The AANEM is excited to announce a collaboration with Gulfcoast to be an authorized reseller of US educational activities authored by Jeffrey Strakowski, MD. Dr. Strakowski is a frequent speaker at the annual meeting, a long-time member of AANEM, and an expert on NMUS.

AANEM Hosted its 10th Annual Day on Capitol Hill

October 02, 2023

AANEM hosted its 10th Annual Day on Capitol Hill on September 18, 2023. AANEM State Liaisons from around the country returned to Washington, D.C. for the first in person Hill Day since 2020. AANEM State Liaisons met key legislative offices to educate Senators and Representatives about electrodiagnostic (EDX) medicine and the current challenges facing the patient and professional community.

Science News: Denervation Impacts Muscle Quality and Knee Bone Mineral Density After Spinal Cord Injury

October 02, 2023

Conducted at a single center, this cross-sectional study aimed to compare muscle size, body composition, bone mineral density (BMD), and metabolic profiles between two groups: individuals with spinal cord injury (SCI) characterized by denervation lower motor neuron (LMN) and those with innervation upper motor neuron (UMN).

Susan E. Mackinnon, MD, Receives 2023 Honorary Member Award

October 02, 2023

Susan E. Mackinnon, MD, is recognized for her achievements in the area of nerve transfer procedures and outstanding achievements in clinical care, community service, research and teaching.

Trainee Talk: A Comprehensive Review of the EMG Interactive Training Tool Bundle

September 18, 2023

The EMG Interactive Training Tool Bundle, created by Dr. Devon I. Rubin, is an innovative training program for electrodiagnostic medicine offered by AANEM. This comprehensive review highlights the outstanding benefits of utilizing this cutting-edge training bundle, particularly when purchased through a Training Program Partnership (TPP) account.

AANEM Comments on 2024 Proposed Update to Physician Fee Schedule & QPP

September 15, 2023

On August 7, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its annual proposed rule that includes updates to payment policies, payment rates, and quality provisions for services furnished under the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule effective on or after January 1, 2024. AANEM staff drafted and submitted a 7-page comment letter that addressed all pertinent aspects of the 2,000+ page proposed rule, including calling on CMS to do everything in its power to avert drastic cuts to physician payments.

Deadline for Contesting 2022 MIPS Scores and Payment Adjustments Quickly Approaching

September 15, 2023

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently unveiled the Merit-based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) performance feedback and final scores for the 2022 performance year. These scores play a crucial role in determining whether a physician will receive a positive, neutral, or negative payment adjustment on Medicare services provided in 2024. The deadline for contesting the 2022 MIPS scores and payment adjustments is October 9, 2023.

Patient Safety: Assessing Fall Risk

September 15, 2023

Falls are a major cause of injury-related morbidity and disability leading to significant healthcare cost and impaired health. Learn how to assess fall risk in EDX laboratory.

Science News: Image Analysis Can Reliably Quantify Median Nerve Echogenicity and Texture Changes in Patients With Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

September 15, 2023

The authors in this study aimed to assess the reliability and diagnostic accuracy of two quantitative methods as objective methods to assess median nerve echotexture changes in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to controls.

National Study to Document Changes in Physician Practice Expense

September 06, 2023

The American Medical Association (AMA) is undertaking a new national study, supported by 173 healthcare organizations including AANEM, to collect representative data on physician practice expenses.

Science News: Preservation of Functional Descending Input to Paralyzed Upper Extremity Muscles in Motor Complete Cervical Spinal Cord Injury

August 31, 2023

In this study, the authors investigated neurophysiological evidence of motor involvement in clinically paralyzed muscles in patients with complete cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) using surface EMG.